How to set a feeding schedule?

[Kenlong]

recently i just left the food on the floor for her because i don't know when she is hungry. When she is hungry she eats it. since every hour she will eat little bit. I tried to set a feeding schedule for her before but she doesn't eat when meal time. she only eat few kibbles within 20min..Most people told me if she doesnt finish it within 10, 15, 20min just take the food away and wait for the next meal? I tried to take the food away after 20min but on that time she just ate so little, im worried she will be hungry can't wait for next meal. How you people feed your puppy? my puppy is now 5months old.

[Lovetodream88]

I free feed mine and always have because she is a picker and dosent eat a lot at one time she takes just a few bites here and there

[lovespandp]

She is still a puppy, I would still free feed her. Pnut is 4 years and he eats like a cat. I tried to schedule feed him, I fed him in the morning and then when I got home from work. He didn’t eat but 2 kibbles in the morning so I stopped. I leave him in the pack n play when I am at work, I put a little bowl of food and a bowl of water. He eats as he is hungry. Also I will give him a tablespoon of wet food once a day. This little guy wont even eat ¼ cup of food a day. I am not going to take his food away bc he doesn’t eat. I think some dogs are really good on a schedule and some are not, you have to feel how your dog is.

To me she sounds like a Pnut eater, so I would just leave the amount it says on the bag of food you are feeding and in a day see how much she eats…

[KazzyK810]

I feed my 4 month old puppy on schedule. I find with a puppy it makes potty-training a whole lot easier.

My last yorkie was free fed once she reached adulthood. It worked great for her, she wasn't over-weight and would just eat when hungry. My new puppy is so much more strongly food/treat driven, I don't know if I'll be able to do the same with her.

[lovespandp]

I think you have to see what type of dog you have, I wish I was able to schedule feed him, but if I did that he would starve! He is my eat 3 kibbles every hour dog!

[Kenlong]

Originally Posted by lovespandp

I think you have to see what type of dog you have, I wish I was able to schedule feed him, but if I did that he would starve! He is my eat 3 kibbles every hour dog!

I have the same situation but we still need to feed them on schedule, otherwise they never learn when to eat. also vet told me that dog will never starve themself. I will keep trying 20min rules for my puppy to get her used. If she doesn't finish eat or didint finish within 20min i will still give her food on next meal. Do not worry she won't get starve within few hours.

[lovespandp]

Originally Posted by Kenlong

I have the same situation but we still need to feed them on schedule, otherwise they never learn when to eat.

. How much does he weigh and what food are you feeding?

[Kenlong]

Originally Posted by lovespandp

. How much does he weigh and what food are you feeding?

she weight 3lbs. feeding her wellness just for puppy dry food

[Princess10]

I tried to feed Princess on a schedule, but like so many of you I feared she would starve! She would eat none at any of the meal times. So I put out her recommended daily amount (about a 1/2 cup) every day and give her all day to eat it. sometimes she eats it all, sometimes not, but I don't worry about her getting low blood sugar or being really hungry in between meals.

[Presto]

I free feed Presto as that's what he was used to. He is not over weight and only eats when he feels like so its worked out well for us

[zekie's mom]

If they are a nibbler, I would free feed. My Zeke is 3 yrs. old and 8 pounds, but only nibbles now and then all day long. He would never eat on schedule because he likes to grab a bit now and then when he is running by his food dish.

[Teegy]

I free feed. when I was doggy sitting the other dogs were on a schedule, he hated it because I had to lift his food

[tjwarder]

**Disclaimer** I am totally new to tiny dogs and NOT an expert by any means. We have had Sugar for 1 week tomorrow. We started feeding her Wellness Core Small Breed dry kibble 2x day with a spoon of Wellness Core canned food mixed in each time. The first two days she ate it all - then gradually over the past 4 days she ate less and less kibble and selectively picked all the wet food out. We mixed and mashed the wet into the dry, but she was able to take only what she considered to be the good stuff. This morning I gave her only dry and left it out all day instead of picking it up. She didn't eat much more than before but plainly gave me a 'WTH??' look this morning when she didn't get her ration of the good stuff.

Today we received our free sample packs of TOTW and I only fed her the salmon dry. After following me around a bit wondering when I was going to offer the canned goods, she ate a little of the TOTW dry. Then some more. Next thing I knew, her bowl was empty and she was looking at me for a reaction. I praised her for finishing her dinner, and then gave her the spoon of Wellness Core canned.

This pattern was so similar to something we went through with our Daisy. I think we will continue to give her the TOTW (or other) dry food first, and offer the small amount of canned AFTER as a reward when she finishes her main meal, rather than mixing the two. DH wanted to give her a bite of chicken before dinner, but I know how that turns out --- after eating something especially yummy, no way would she be satisfied with a bowl of dry kibble (I know I wouldn't).

Perhaps you can try different high-quality dry brands to find out what your pup likes best. Wellness has good nutrition, but maybe it's just not her favorite. TOTW sent us a LOT of samples. Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul is also on the way. The samples give us a little break on cost and the opportunity to find food(s) that she will enjoy and eat.